A Day in Chicago with us.

Spaghetti is on Staycation this week. He had too much vacation days saved up at work and the way it goes, is he will lose them, so wonderful boss let him have the whole week off, counting his days off this gave us this last Monday through this coming up Tuesday off! Wee!

So after days full of vet visits (Sophie has an eye ulcer. Boo) and our 6 month dental check ups (yee.ha fun) we thought a day in the city would be fun…

 

We took the kids on the metra train, from a city about 20 minutes north of us, to Chicago. It was fun, and they had a blast posing for the camera (Hey Aerial, I think Alex is stealing your camera face!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We get up there and go on foot about 3 blocks to the ‘L’ (see this for more info on what the “L” is) I loved walking with the kids showing them the pigeons, a bird native to our busy city, not afraid of much. The kids got a big kick out of how close they could get to them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Headed down to the Jackson Street “L” train. The kids were NOT amused at all. We had to wait about 10 minutes for the next train, and it was warm down there, not as hot as the 93 degrees above ground, but not exactly air conditioned. This is their ‘unhappy where is the beach’ look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THEN we get on and they think differently of it. I told you it’d be fun-ner.

They LOVED that the ‘L’ went from underground to 2 stories above ground. Kinda crazy if you’ve never been on it. It sways, rocks, slams on brakes, speeds up, underground, above ground. Needless to say it’s an experience.

Took the “L” to Wrigleyville. An area Spaghetti and I both know well. I spend a day here each year, at the Pride Parade in June. Walking BLOCKS, with about half a million people.

And Spaghetti works here with his dad. Vending beer to Chicago Cubs fans on days when he can around his day job.

It was nice today, no game so it was quiet. Got a cute shot of the kids together in front of Wrigley Field, this is where their Grandpa Mc stand each game to sell programs.

We were hot and whiney already, so we headed over to my favorite place, Starbucks for a snack and some coffee.

After our break, we walked around to the side of Wrigley Field, they had the gates open for set up, Sir Paul McCartney is playing tonight and tomorrow.

That stand right there is where my Spaghetti stands, selling beer, pretzels, and peanuts. (tip your vendors!!)

We took the kids right across the street to the Wrigleyville #78 Fire Department so they could see the trucks and say hello to the guys.

We stopped over at the office, to pick up Spaghetti’s payroll check.

 

 

This must have exhausted the kids, because they ended up on our shoulders, yep nothing says fun like a tote bag full of food, 93 degrees in the shade, and a whiney 35 lb three year old on your shoulders!

 

We walked about 4 blocks to the bank. Weaky promptly took off his shoes, sunglasses and curled up under there. We enjoyed their comfy chairs, and full blast air conditioner for a few minutes.

BACK to the ‘L’ train. Now to Chicago Street…

 

Waited about 8 minutes for the #66 bus to take us to Navy Pier. Again whiney till they got on and saw how cool a BIG bus was.

Weird that the bus was so empty for a Friday afternoon… everyone at work?

The bus dropped us off RIGHT at Navy Pier (THE best place to go for fun if your visiting the Chi)

So we walked the park, very excited that the Ohio Street Beach was just a 1/2 block away.

Kids didn’t waste time jumping into the lake! Alex did this funny thing where he would lay on his tummy at the edge of the water, and push backwards into the surf. He LOVED Lake Michigan!

 

All those damn snacks and lunches I had been toting around with me for hours, paid off. We had sandwiches, brownies, granola bars, fruit twists, carrots with ranch dressing, and cheerio’s.

All under out beach tent. This thing was pretty easy to tote. With shoulder strap. It was so worth it though. Perfect shade and privacy for us.

 

I have to say the best part of the beach here is the mix of park and beach, RIGHT next to the skyline.

It’s just beautiful, enjoying the nature of Chicago with the BIG busy buildings and Lake Shore Drive.

 

 

 

 

 

Now I’m NOT a beach kinda person. I mean I love to go, but I SIT on the sand, I sweat my ass off, and enjoy people watching.

I did dip my feet in the water a bit. It was cool and wonderful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best part of the day? Watching Spaghetti enjoy some time with his Weaky and Bagel. Now Spaghetti is ‘Scuba Steve’ to me. He’s scuba certified, LOVES all kinds of water. So very happy that he is, so HE can take the kids out there. And I can Momarazzi from the beach.

After HOURS of play on the beach, and enjoying our lunch. We packed up and walked over to Navy Pier to enjoy some Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. It was nummy, and we were EXHAUSTED!

We had talked about it, looked at the train schedule and decided that we could make the 5:15 pm train back home, BUT money wise and time wise we decided that taking a cab would be easier for all of us.

 

I do think we took about every means possible to travel in Chicago this day. This is the kids in the cab. They were super excited, I swear they were. Minus the deer in head lights shot I got here.

 

 

 

 

 

So after a WHOLE lot of the BIG city…

Even bigger buildings…

We made it back to the train, climbed up to the second level of the metra train. Assuming the kids would PASS. OUT.

Nope. Weaky was high strung, wiggly and just wanted to do anything but sit on a train?! OMG we were SO tired…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bagel finally passed out on my lap and so I braided her hair to pass the time,

 

While Weaky continued to assault Spaghetti’s face. Let’s just say it was NOT fun

 

 

 

Finally I got Weaky to chill out in his own little space at the end of our row right next to me.

 

Started the day by leaving at 8:40 am, and home in the drive way at 6:23 pm. A VERY long day. LOTS and LOTS of adventures. TONS of pictures.

But after a crazy few weeks of fighting between Spaghetti and I, I have to say this really made us better.

It was a combo of having to work together, with the kids, and a big city. To really work at communicating, and realize that we were not in a hurry and to enjoy the day. Enjoy the staycation with the kids.

While posting this I texted him I was going through the pictures of this day, and I missed him. He’s at Wrigley right now, getting ready for Paul McCartney’s concert tonight. Best part, he sent me a text that said “I miss you”… we never text. And this may be the first love-ish one he’s ever sent me. I saved it.

Thanks for the memories Chicago. That’s why I love you so.

Feisty.

xo

21.71 miles.

We did it. HOLY shit.

I asked Spaghetti to go on a bike ride with me yesterday, it was about 90 degrees and we left at 11:50 am (I know GREAT time to head out for a bike ride in 90 degree heat right?)

So with the kids being at his parents, and we had NOTHING planned. We thought we’d make a day of this. Now kids free bike ride is awesome, there are some SUPER long trails by us, one being the I&M Canal Trail, goes from Chicago all the way to Seneca, and maybe even further. We usually stay around here, but a good hour of biking is fun.

He suggests we try something new. We go down the trail SOUTH west, and go a way we never went before. I know the towns around us, so sure lets go.

I just got a new bike tote, it’s a deep pouch, that held my 1 liter of water, and my little pouch that had my chap stick, sunblock, cell phone and inhaler in it.

We rode, and rode. The beginning part is horrible, I think next time, we should just go RIGHT for the trail, instead of taking a side road for 2 miles in direct sun (hardest part!)

Now 90 degrees is suck-tastic in direct sun, and here in south Chicago it’s humid as hell, think Florida humid. BUT down in the woods the temperature was about low 80’s so it was bearable.

We both said that we were proud that even though a small tree was down, we carried our bikes over instead of just going home. And when we saw the 5 mile marker for a state park, we decided to go for it. (even though we had just gone 6 miles already)

I drank the whole 1 liter on the way there, and at the park some kind people gave me a liter of water to take back with me. We took about 20 minutes total in breaks. (more me needing them then him)

The trip was an adventure. A great one. Of proud moments like that we kept going, we laughed, we talked, there was NO t.v. or internet between us. We had official “US time”

Along the way there were of coarse animals.

2 frogs. They hopped along in front of us.

2 cranes. One in the marsh nearby, one flew RIGHT over our heads.

1 beaver. Walked right in front of us.

1 doe. She was running towards us! She halted when she saw us, and ran down the path in front of us while we rode behind her!

12 hissing geese. Now we have a TON of geese around here. BUT when the path has a drop off one side, and water directly on the other and these geese (about 6 adults the rest smaller, probably born this spring) were in a space about the size of a minivan, they are NOT to be messed with.

They protect their young, and HISSED and flapped at us as we drove by, I was more concerned with them biting us and I’m not one to be swayed by animals. (except the hissing geese)

3 Racoon. 2 big, one baby, the baby was adorable just sitting along the path.

Like I said the beginning was tough, and so that meant the ending 2 miles was insane. We were hoping to be home by 3, and well full sun, at 3 pm was HARD. I didn’t give up.

I walked for a bit. But so did Spaghetti right before the 2 miles of sun is a HUGE super STEEP hill, and not sure I’ve seen anyone ride it. I had a hard time pushing my bike up (thanks to Spaghetti for coming back down and helping!)

So 3 pm was the goal? At 2:57pm we got to the trail about 2 blocks from out house, 2:58 close to the end of the trail, WE pushed hard and at 2:59:48 we were at the garage door!!

I staggered off my bike, into the house (HAD to PEE!!) into our swim suits and dove into our pool. Floated around for about 30 minutes, chatting about our adventure, guessing if we were over or under 17 miles, he took the under I said more then 18, I won! 21.71 miles total.

So it’s the day after, my legs and back are good, the thing that’s the sorest?! Not my butt (but close) my right wrist! I can go one handed and didn’t realize that I go left hand free, and all my weight was pushing on my right wrist for 3 hours!

Will we do it again? Yep. Hoping to bring some camping gear, and go 20 + miles one way, camp and head back the next day. Until then, I’ll just take it easy in the house!

Thanks for the adventure, the quality time, and memories Spaghetti. xo

Feisty

A bunch of giberish. I wanna taco damnit...

Were you considered popular in high school? Why or why not?

I don't think I was popular. But I wasn't outcasted, or made fun of. I went to a public school with about 680 kids per CLASS. So take that times 4 grades we had close to 2800 kids, so you fit into your own group. It was much nicer then gradeschool. I had great friends and still do from gradeschool, but those mean bitches were brutal then.


How old are you in your dreams?
Same as I am now. Never older or younger.


Did you ever run away from home? Why or why not?
Yes once. My dad and I were arguing over something. And he said I should just leave the house. I grabbed my purse and walked out. I didn't make it a block away, and he was there to pick me up in his truck. He was mad that I actually left. I wasn't going far, just to my friend Nerak's house.



If you could invite any five people to your birthday party, who would they be?
So I am wondering if this is any 5 people in the world outside of my family? Let's pretend it is. So that being said my family and friends are there. But if I could invite 5 other people? I would say P!nk (cuz she's a damn rock star. And I think we have the same "whatever" type of attitude), Corey Felman (because I have loved this guy since I first saw him in the Bad News Bears. Still do!) Adam Sandler (because he's funny and seems to be a chill kinda guy) Britney Spears (because I big red heart her music, and yes I know she lip sync's, I've paid to watch her do that twice) SARK (she's an author of amazing inspiring art and creativity)




What birthday has been your favorite so far? What about it made it special?
My 30th. Because I got what I asked for. I made my wish simple and let Spaghetti get creative.

All I asked for was 3 days and 2 nights away with him. I had just had Weaky less then 3 months prior, (and I KNEW months before I had him, that I would need a break after having a 2 year old and a new born)

So Spaghetti did just that. He made it a surprise until I saw we were driving into Chicago, he had us staying at the Hard Rock Hotel on the Michigan Ave, but that wasn't even my surprise. At dinner in my card I opened, and found a job for me.

Yes a job. Spaghetti bought me a one day job at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago! OMG. I was crying my eyes out. I was SO excited. So to sum up the weekend? We walked everywhere, enjoyed, the parks, the Bean, Navy Pier, we even went up to Wrigleyville. It was an awesome weekend, of me and him. I SO needed that.




What one thing are you craving today?
A volcano taco from Taco Bell. (make that two)


What's your least favorite word?
I have a few.
Panties.
Moist.
Doi (as in duh but worse)


Where do you go when you need really good advice?
Honest advice? My mom the Queen, Spaghetti, Aerial, my cousin Bob. My dearest and most honest friend from grade school Maternal Mirth.


If you could participate in any winter Olympic sport, what would it be?
If I was good at it? Ice skating. Cuz I've ALWAYS wanted to skate pretty. But maybe I could make Scrapbooking a sport.




What was your best day of the week last week and why?
Thursday. I went to the Flower and Garden Show at Navy Pier in Chicago with JUST my parents. We started our day early, and ended with a nice dinner at Chili's. I don't get me time with JUST them. Usually my sister, kids, or DH is along too. Not that I don't love them along for the ride, but you get it right?


What's the longest you've ever gone without sleep?
When I gave birth to Bagel. I started at 5 am to check in at the hospital at 6 am (I was being induced) and after a LONG day, I FINALLY was ready to push around 11 pm, but she wasn't born until 1:23 am the next day! By the time I was done with 23 minutes of stitches (the epidural wore off, so I felt EVERY. STITCH. in my nether region) then they were pushing me to feed her, and since I hadn't eaten since 530 am, I was about to kill someone for food, but I was so sick from not eating and the drugs, I just had some sherbert. I think I passed out around 4 am.


Is how old you look and/or how old you feel right now different from your actual age?
Sorta? I look like maybe late 20's, but feel more like late 30's, and act like early 20's (but more responsible them most 20 year olds. But carefree and slightly childish with a punk attitude)

So I'm thinkin' it would be better if I looked like I was in my early 20's, acted like I was in my late 30's and felt like I was in my late 20's it would be better for me!


Got these questions over at Manic Monday's site!

I love 34 year old Spaghetti!

Happy Birthday to you.

You live in a Zoo.

You look like a monkey.

and smell like one too!

Happy Birthday Spaghetti, for all those happy memories you have given to us...

For all those funny times....

For all those moments you were able to be there see first hand...

For the life you and me have created.

Our family, pets, children. I thank you for taking this adventure with me.

Your funny, witty, smart, and handsome.

You put up with my weirdness, farting, and constant swearing.

You are a work horse, and are too kind.

I cherish you, and can't wait to spend many more birthdays with you.

I love you Spaghetti.

Muah.

Feisty

xoxo...

Spaghetti and Bagel

I feel bad that Bagel often says I am her favorite,

sure it's an ego boost, but at the same time a sad moment when she doesn't like Spaghetti.

Maybe it's a phase. I know I will always be her mommy, but I want her to be a daddy's girl.

I don't think this is the way to start it though...

Bagel: "Stupid thing" as she's playing with her toys

Spaghetti: "What's a stupid thing?" falling for the trap

Bagel: "Your a stupid thing, dad. Go get dressed and go to work" goes back to playing with her toys.

Spaghetti: shocked and speachless. Laughs it off, then tells me the story again later. (I was at my downlines house) He laughs on the outside, but inside I would be sad. I know he's gone alot at work. And maybe it's a phase?

Hope so.

My OCD letter to you

Spaghetti worked night shift at the casino from November 2005 until June of 2009. It was 4 1/2 years. LONG years.

He started night shift right when I was pregnant with Bagel, his shift starting at 10 pm, and ending at 6 am. It wasn't a horrible shift to say, for the fact that we could still attend events, get togethers, whatever. He just got alot less sleep then everyone else.

Spaghetti and I worked things out, so he worked the Casino at night, and picked up the Video store durring the day. Durring the baseball season, he works at Wrigley Field in Chicago. All this so I could stay home with Bagel.

Soon after Bagel we decided to try for Weaky, very lucky to get pregnant so fast we had two kids, 22 months apart (to some that is INSANLY close in age, but for others they fit three kids in that time span!)

April through September is Baseball season, in which Spaghetti was gone a good part of the time, the bit he was home, he was passed out from exhaustion.

I always was good with being OCD on door locks. Car doors, house doors, even bedroom doors. But when Spagehtti started to work nights I went into major OCD, but when he had the combination of Wrigley, nights at the Casino and the other few hours a week at the Video store, I became officially OCD on door locks.

Toss in two small kids. And I became a full fledged freak. Now I've never been diagnosed with OCDness but I may fall into some sort of catagory.

I thought my OCD craziness was going away. Since it has been 6 months of Spaghetti on his wonderful day shift. Ah 6 am is a bit early but 2 pm is SO nice to have him home. And knowing that no matter the jobs he works he would be home with me at night.

Until tonight. Kind of random, but he hasn't closed the Video store (which is open till midnight!) in those 6 months. And so I am tired, and I have come to realize that I have found lots of mindless things to do to keep myself away at almost 12 am!

I am exhaused but I have gotten up twice to check the doors. And again now to check the windows. I have been SO spoiled by Spaghetti being home by my side each night for these past 6 months that I forgot how OCD I get over the safety of myself and the kids.

I checked the back door, the lock the bar in the door. I checked the kitchen and pool room windows. I checked the front room, front door and screen door. I locked the inside garage door and then after locking it all up. I unlock it and look back into the garage to make sure the garage door is down. Then relock everything again.

Hope Spaghetti will be home soon, it's almost midnight, and my typing is driving me nuts. I am typing most the wrods like that. WORDS. I'm pooped, maybe if I watch t.v. in bed.

Good night blog land.

Feisty

Movie Review Monday!!

It's been a while since I did a review. I often review movies that are going to be released that Tuesday on DVD. And just a note in case you didn't already know, I get this perk, cuz of Spaghetti's video store job. The employee's get to take home any new release to watch, FO FREE! so we stock up on movies on Thursday and watch them through Monday.


Anywho. Here's the movies we watched, and what my opinion is of them.



Humpday.
It was one of those ones that never made it to the theatre. And there is a damn good reason why.


It's weird, uncomfortable and just plain fucked up. It's not your normal studio movie. Let's just say it's a husband and wife at home, doing normal boring new husband and wife stuff. When scruffy guy knocks on the door at 1:30 in the morning.


Husband agrees to hang out with his old friend, and ends up at a party, while his wife is home making her special pork chop dinner for the guys. The party is at an arty house, and the scruffy guys girlfriend (he just met yesterday) has a girlfriend too.

Kinky.


Husband guy, gets stoned, and drunk and they party people are all laying around talking about making amature p*rn, and that there is some award show for them. When all of a sudden, husband guy says the best artsy amature p*rn would be if two straight guys fucked for the sake of art. (I know amature is spelled wrong, I did it for the sake of being googled for the subject)


Then he proceeds to suggest himself and scruffy guy.


...


Now don't get me wrong, I love gay men, lesbians, bi's, tranies, BUT I really don't want to watch two guys going at it. With Spaghetti.


Let's just say we usually watch stupid movies until the end just because they are free, and to see what the fucking point is. Nope not this one. This was a fast forward movie. I did see scenes where he was apologizing to his wife, and the renting of a hotel room, and two naked guys. And that was all we needed to see for this review.


That movie would be a no star for my review.


Moving on!


My Sisters Keeper.

Great movie, I cried, I laughed, I cried ALOT, I sobbed, gag sobbed.

Long story short, Cameron Diez plays mom, who has 3 kids with her husband. A son, then a daughter who gets Leukemia, so they make Abigail Breslin out of a petre dish for spare parts for her sister. Hence the title.


I cried the most when the dad had to pin Abigail's 5 year old character down for the bone marrow, I mean I didn't sob the whole way through, but it was probably because of the family, the cancer, that really got me at times.


Cute movie, great actors in it, Joan Cusack and Alec Baldwin are in it too. If you can handle a pretty graphic movie about fighting parents, and throwing up blood, you just might be able to stomach this movie.

I give it 4 stars.



Why Up again? Well because my kids watch it 3 times a day. I love this movie, and so do they. Plus I needed a good dose of it after Humpday.

Thanks for askin.

(a picture of a picture. I know it's fuzzy, but this was before digital cameras and was 1999)



Once upon a time...
I fell in love. Hard and fast.
This guy he listened.
He remembered my LONG stories.
He like my silly self.
He thought I was beautiful.





I would say
"I'm falling in love with you"
but he would say
"Maybe someday you'll catch up"
he was always telling me
that he was the lucky one.





We both had other relationships at the beginning.
He was just dating a girl we worked with.
I was in a serious one with my H.S. sweetheart.
It only took a few early morning breakfast dates
(after graveyard shift together)
and seeing the other girls at work look at him,
and bet who would date him next.


My relationship with my current boyfriend was frustrating.
And I realized that Spaghetti needed to be with me.
I had a strong feeling that he had liked me for months.
And when he dumped his girlfriend,
the day he found out I left my boyfriend.
It was obvious to us both.





Standing on my parents front porch one night
(May 29th 1999)
I asked Spaghetti what he wanted from our friendship.
He said "I want you to be happy"
I said "You make me happy"
And so on that day we began dating.





Our one month anniversary we went to a fancy Italian restaurant.
And a 2 night 3 day adventure
to a nice little indoor water park in Wisconsin.
We were smitten.



One night in August I had a dream.
I dreamed that Spaghetti had asked me to marry him.
I told him of my dream.
He said "So what was your answer?"
I said ask me the question.
And find out.
(that became a joke, that everyone knew)





I thought I was being pushy.
I thought he would think he was a rebound boyfriend.
I was madly in love with him.





October came.
Our 5 month anniversary.
October 29th 1999.
We had a busy day planned.
We went to the Round Barn pumpkin Farm.
Then we went to the Chicago Wolves Hockey Game.



While at the game,
right at the second period,
and right before the second buzzer,
you said to me...
"What's your answer?"
I said as I had for months
"What's your question?"





Spaghetti pointed up to the
huge marquee above the ice rink.
It read...
"Queen of Feisty will you marry me?"

All I could think was

Holy shit. That is MY name.

Then I quickly turned to him to see him down on one knee.

Ring in box, anxious look on his face.

I was crying and all I could do was hug him

and say "Yes. Yes. Yes"

The people around us realized what had just happened,

the congratulated us.

I just stared at the ring.

A few minutes later, Spaghetti said he had a surprise

Walking down the steps to our seat was

my mom, sister, my mom's best friend

Spaghetti's mom and dad.

(Carrots, my dad had to work)

They watched the whole thing

from across the rink,

and they got it all on video!

We were married

June 16th 2001.

I was almost 23. He was 25.

I look back and freak out at how young we were.

But I knew then in my heart that I wanted to be with you forever.

I wanted nothing more then to spend

my life with you.

I am excited that our life is the way it is.

We are blessed with a great family,

supportive parents,

a house to call our own,

two beautiful kids,

and friends from all the milestones in our life.

So now I often say...

"Thanks for asking."

I big puffy, shiny, glittery, red heart you.

Day two. 89 to go.

Alright I had to hold back from blogging yesterday. I was a mood swing of bitter anger and sad, sad pity parties. Thanks to Aerial for letting me fill her voicemail full of rants and some crying. I do believe if you read me on FB then you truely get the effect this is having on me.


If you don't know, yesterday was day one of ... P90X let me tell you it is all the ass whooping it promises you.


The diet is weird, and we are working to make it more edible or I am running full sprint to the car and off to the closest deep fried food I can find. (I was SO close last night)


The diet is weird. And I can eat Salmon and turkey bacon, but I need to adjust it. We here are creatures of habit. We like a food we eat the same thing for days. So I will make broccoli for a week, and that is fine with Spaghetti. I will choose the Dole lime fruit bar as my snack everyday, and cherish it's yumminess.


The work out. Well we started out with the "Core Synergistics" DVD. Wow. I realized when I had a hard time lifting the gallon of milk this morning that I worked out yesterday! The "Core" DVD is all about push-ups of all creative kinds, and ab work to make you cry. We don't cry we laugh and point at the t.v. screen.


I am proud of us for trying this, and maybe I won't lose the 30 pounds I have set. But any pounds is good for me! Now if Spaghetti can keep of his pop and I can (whimper) keep off the coffee, we will have done good! (I am sure I will have more money since the drive through is off limits too!)

Queen of Feisty

We set a date.

Not for a wedding or a big fun party.

The big day.

The P90X day.

The day when happy ends, and some serious work out and eating healthy begins.

Thursday September 24th.

For 90 days. Till December 24th.

I have been reading the fitness guide, as well as the nutrition guide.

I have a chart to check off each day that we do good.

I will hope to either blog on "Happy New You" my food and exercise, or in the journal that Spaghetti will be keeping.

We seriously sat down yesterday and went over diet, and exercise, when and what will be going on.

We think when the kids nap, and Spaghetti is home from work (around 3pm) we can do this together.

I do not think this will be fun. I know for a fact that most forms of exercise are sucky, but I am pretty sure we just bit off a big bite of "this is going to suck ass"

But even if it does suck ass. If I can lose the 30 lbs that haunt me. If we can get as fit as this says we can. I am secretly excited. Scared. But excited...

5 days left...

A wee bit to much eeffoc!?!

gOoD mOrNiNg everyone!!!!

Yep WAY to much coffee, and up to damn early again. I say to early at 7:45 am, because I have the privilege to have children who are locked in their rooms so well behaved that they love to sleep till 9:30 am.








This folks is what I have gotten used too. I mean from sleeping, an easy 10 hours before kids, then to 3 hours while pregnant, then to 4 hours after baby is born, and then now back to my insane amount of sleep again.





So even when I go to bed at midnight, I still get a lovely 9 1/2 hours of sleep. (who just gave me the finger? I saw that.) But now I can't sleep as well. Hmmm... not sure what. I guess I will just use it to get over caffeinated and blog! Hooray!

Anywho. Onto the subject at hand. Is there one? Kinda. Sorta.

Well with the holidays right around the corner, what else would be a better time then now to start dieting, and working out. (I know from Candy over load in October, to Carb Nation in November, then their is It's-the-Holidays-I-can-eat-what-I-want in December)

Yes I know, broken record, same blog post different pictures. BUT their once was a time when I looked like this...

That was a month before I was pregnant with Bagel (in Oregon at Spaghetti's cousin's wedding) Damn I looked good in that dress. I had a waist!! And only one chin!! An arms that were in proportion to my body!!


And the point of my blog today is....

Yep. Happy Sweetest Day. This is what Spaghetti and I got each other. (don't freak out, Sweetest Day isn't till next month)

Yep. We have now vowed to an hour a day, to working out together, with our fabulous P90x that is in mid shipment right now.

I am trying to enjoy my last of the over Caloried, and carbed Mocha drinks, my last of the poptarts, sigh, I think I will just go eat a tub of lard to satisfy my dirty little food habit.

I still have a week before it gets to my door. And a week after that Spaghetti is done vending at Wrigley (his schedule is chaos when he is there) I am thinking October 2nd-ish is when we are starting?

Oh I will let you know how it goes. Oh and for the laundry's sake. If your sitting on the edge of your seat wondering how that project is going. I did rearrange all the clothes that were already hung, by style yesterday. Then I laid in the big pile of clothes and took a cat nap.

I am thinking if I am going to be a super hot mom, I need to keep all my skinny clothes. So I think for now, I will just hang up and put away the clothes I have. Decide later what to keep and what to toss.

Until then, it's a big box of Mackie Ronie and cheese, for breakfast lunch and dinner!

A staycation of nuts and berries and all around a good time

This summer has been all about staycations for this little family of 4. Money is tight, blah blah blah, I know we are all broke.

Spaghetti and I have now started the Mc family adventures of going on evening bike rides to find different parks or just revisit the ones we like alot.

Spaghetti and are are trying to get out, exercise more, and so why not exhauste ourselves and the kids by taking a long bike ride. Now we do visit parks for a break. The main need for a park break is when a 3 year old and a 16 1/2 month old are trapped in one of those tiny two seater thingies that ride behind daddies bike (yes daddy's bike. Mommy proudly strapped it to her bike the day our nice neighbors gave it to us, and almost died riding to the bank (1.4 miles away) since it was uphill going there, AND I didn't realize that the carrier itself weighs in at about 40 lbs. Add the 20 lb baby and the 28 lb tot. Holy shit. Again why I quickly strapped it to Daddy's bike)

This has now required me to ride side saddle on my bike to either yell at Bagel or Weaky. It's pleasent. I mean who doesn't love a beautiful family of 4 ridding down the lane, all while the mommy is yelling...

"Bagel stop pushing!" "Weaky no pinching" "Bagel don't hit your brother!" "Weaky no bitting, well I did tell your sister not to touch you"

So yes a park break has become more of a necessary stop to sepreate the monkey children.

So this adventure leads us to the Hunt West park. A sister subdivision built right across the way.

We like to play on all the fun toys (parks have the weirdest inventions of things to ride on)

This first fun toy we found at the park. I like to call, simply... Barf. Not much else to it. You hold on, spin and probably barf. I laugh at the picture, because I either look the same height as when I was in grade school or that my legs have been removed from the knees down. (I did not barf though)

Spaghetti has been really into getting his picture taken. NOW if you know Spaghetti, you must know that he HATED getting his picture taken. REFUSED to smile, and now after 10 years together, I have NO idea what I did or said. But I will take it. He smiles, and for the most part will humor my momarazzi photo stalking ways.

Spaghetti wanted to try something different since he is 6 foot over my 5 foot. And so he said. "I want to throw my feet up to the bar and spin, you take my picture. K?" "oh and I hope I don't rack my nuts."

Yes folks like the genius he is, Spaghetti did not think that jumping up, spreading his legs to straddle the HUGE yellow pole would result in racking his nuts. (before I tell you more, the kids are safe in the baby swings about 5 feet away laughing and pointing at daddy. And yes we are the only ones at the park)

In fact he did rack his nuts.

I fell to the ground in a fit of laughter. I clutched my crotch to hope not to completely wet myself. (I did) I was covered in playground mulch and urine, tears of laughter streamed down my face. Spaghetti to was laughing, since he already thought he would rack his nuts he was able to let go fast enough so there wasn't to much damage.

So for the photo opt. I picked myself up, dusted the mulch from my hoodie, attempted to adjust my urine soaked Capri sweats (oh it was SO worth it though) and then Spaghetti attempted to put both legs to one side.

Nice shot.

They also had this cool rock wall that you could go into. Or climb. Or even use the funny 1/2 ladder to play with. Either way everyone played on this. Happy Bagel below...

Daddy enjoyed being king of the mountain...

Along with Weaky Man who also enjoyed his time on the rock wall...

Bagel loves the slides, funny it take her the WHOLE park visit to get up the guts to go down but once she starts she is on EVERY slide, covered, twisty, you name it.
She even raced Daddy a few times!

Afterwards we all returned home to sit on the counters and eat some blueberries!!

(How do you not just LOVE this picture of my little man?!? OMG! To cute! And yes, for a TMI FYI he did eat to many and pooped out a blue berry pie the next morning!)

Hope you enjoyed your summer of vacations, or staycations, or just relocation's!